she returns....
Aug. 28th, 2007 02:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lagilmanThanks to everyone who left me birthday wishes, here and elsewhere. All went well, despite a few mishaps, and major thanks again to sous chef ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
quarkwiz, who was able to read the directions in French so we were able to heat the foie gras properly! (the dough needs to be rolled a bit thinner but I was right, the pear and the liver did blend together gorgously.).
(EtA: winner of 'best birthday card' honors split betweenkradical and vincam with a slight edge going to vincam for use of lolcat.)
I then spent 36 hours out in Cape Cod, doing a little research and spending QT with the beach*, the wine, and The Book. No, not mine. HP7. Overall, meh. This is a book where JKR's storytelling ability (which is excellent) doesn't overcome her story-writing ability (which sucks). Her lack of technical skill showed in the sense that all the details were thrown together onto the page, rather than paced out or supported by a plot-like frame. I also thought that she pulled one too many a twist out of her ass, and tried to be cleverer than she is. These weren't clever books, she's not a clever writer. That was part of her appeal, being non-clever, and I'm sorry she tried to change that at the end, because it hurt the Fun part that IS her strength. But there, it's done, now we'll see if she's got anything else in her. Oh, and the epilogue just annoyed me, but that's me.
I also spent QT with the mosquitos. In a group of eight people on the docks last night, talking and watching the moon rise (a time-honored tradition in Wellfleet) I'm of course the one who came home with welts on her face. *sigh* Am very tired of being a mosquito all-you-can-eat buffet....
But now am home, and some @sswipe parked their wee twee Bug across the entrance to my driveway, despite there being many parking spaces right across the street. I've left a note with my feelings on the subject, and if the car is not moved within the next hour, the cops will be called. I am a forgiving person in tight parking situations, but that's just Obnoxious.
And now? Now I go back to work. Wheeee....
*here, it's "the beach." In Jersey, it's "the Shore." I don't know why, it just is.
quarkwiz, who was able to read the directions in French so we were able to heat the foie gras properly! (the dough needs to be rolled a bit thinner but I was right, the pear and the liver did blend together gorgously.).(EtA: winner of 'best birthday card' honors split between
kradical and vincam with a slight edge going to vincam for use of lolcat.)I then spent 36 hours out in Cape Cod, doing a little research and spending QT with the beach*, the wine, and The Book. No, not mine. HP7. Overall, meh. This is a book where JKR's storytelling ability (which is excellent) doesn't overcome her story-writing ability (which sucks). Her lack of technical skill showed in the sense that all the details were thrown together onto the page, rather than paced out or supported by a plot-like frame. I also thought that she pulled one too many a twist out of her ass, and tried to be cleverer than she is. These weren't clever books, she's not a clever writer. That was part of her appeal, being non-clever, and I'm sorry she tried to change that at the end, because it hurt the Fun part that IS her strength. But there, it's done, now we'll see if she's got anything else in her. Oh, and the epilogue just annoyed me, but that's me.
I also spent QT with the mosquitos. In a group of eight people on the docks last night, talking and watching the moon rise (a time-honored tradition in Wellfleet) I'm of course the one who came home with welts on her face. *sigh* Am very tired of being a mosquito all-you-can-eat buffet....
But now am home, and some @sswipe parked their wee twee Bug across the entrance to my driveway, despite there being many parking spaces right across the street. I've left a note with my feelings on the subject, and if the car is not moved within the next hour, the cops will be called. I am a forgiving person in tight parking situations, but that's just Obnoxious.
And now? Now I go back to work. Wheeee....
*here, it's "the beach." In Jersey, it's "the Shore." I don't know why, it just is.
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no subject
Date: 2007-08-28 06:42 pm (UTC)As for HP7, all I can say is, we read different books. I absolutely disagree with your analysis, but hey, so it goes. And the truth is, I adored the epilogue.
no subject
Date: 2007-08-28 07:54 pm (UTC)She also told the classic war story, in many ways.
Before I actually read any Rowling, I didn't like what I heard about the books. I was one of the folks who was very upset when HP 4 won the Hugo for best novel at MilPhil. That said, when I finally read the novels a few years later, I stopped badmouthing her.
no subject
Date: 2007-08-29 02:25 am (UTC)For the bugs--failing access to Muskol, the lurvly Canadian stuff that keeps even the evil Black Fly at bay, I recommend the "Deepwoods Sportsmen's" version of Off bug repellent. It's 98% deet. Don't make the mistake of applying it and then getting any on your lips, as I did because I was sweating up a storm Saturday morning and swiped at my face to stop the sweat-drip. The lips go numb.
no subject
Date: 2007-08-29 04:06 am (UTC)Thanks again for a lovely brunch on Sunday ... I only just felt like eating again today. :)
no subject
Date: 2007-08-29 03:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-30 02:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-30 02:12 pm (UTC)They're lovely, thank you.